Two marquis, Acaste and Clitandre, enter. Also arriving are Eliante, Celimene's cousin, and Philinte, Alceste's friend. Alceste tries to pressure Celimene to make a choice between him and her other suitors, but she brushes that off.
The two marquis start naming various members of the royal court, just to hear Celimene decimate their characters. When Alceste complains that they are encouraging Celimene's gossip, he is ridiculed. Celimene says that Alceste's stance is only posing on his part and that his high principles are his way of distinguishing himself in company.
Even Philinte points out that Alceste is now defending people that he himself claims to dislike. He also observes that Alceste complains whether people praise him or criticize him. Alceste admits that he doesn't know which is worse, people's ridicule or their false.....
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